Spinach Falafel Balls Food

SPINACH FALAFEL BALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cook and drain spinach according to package directions.
• Mix in remaining ingredients.
• Make into bite sized balls.
• Bake on cookie sheet about 20 minutes until lightly browned.
• Can be then frozen and thawed out one hour before serving.

SPINACH FALAFEL

Steps:

• In a colander, rinse the dried chickpeas and place them in a large stainless steel bowl or pot. Add enough water to cover by 2 inches (5 cm). Stir in 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda and leave them to soak for 8 to 10 hours or overnight.
• In a large food processor, pulse the spinach until coarsely chopped.
• Drain the chickpeas well then add to the food processor along with the cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, flour, and baking powder. Pulse until all the mixture is finely chopped but not puréed into hummus, about 1 minute. Place the mixture in a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the sesame paste, water, garlic, lemon juice, and salt together until smooth and runny. If you find that it is too thick, add a bit more water. Stir in the parsley, adjust seasoning to taste with salt and lemon juice. Alternately, you can whiz all the tahini ingredients together in a food processor.
• Using about 2 tablespoons of the falafel mixture for each one, form the falafel into thick patties about 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter.
• Set a large skillet over medium-high heat and pour in enough oil to reach a depth of 1/4-inch (6-mm). Once the oil reaches 325°F (160°C), carefully fry the falafel in batches of 4 or 5 until golden brown, 1 1/2 to 3 minutes per side. Move to a wire rack and season with salt.
• Serve the falafel piled on a plate or tucked inside pita bread with a generous amount of green tahini.

BAKED FALAFEL BALLS

Steps:

• Bring water to a boil and remove from the heat.
• Mix in the bulgur.
• Cover well and allow the wheat to sit until all the water is absorbed -- about 20 minutes.
• Heat the olive oil in a small pan and saute the onion and garlic over medium heat until the onion is just transparent.
• Add red chili flakes, cumin, and coriander and saute for 1 more minute.
• Combine the chickpeas and bulgur in a food processor. Add the lemon juice, bread crumbs, cilantro, parsley and salt and process until just mixed, and has a pleasing texture.
• Set mixture aside for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Form falafel mixture into 2 inch balls and place on a lightly oiled sheet pan.
• Spray the balls with some olive oil.
• Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until golden, turning the pan once during baking.
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